Amphibious garment

ABSTRACT

A garment constructed with an outer shell of substantially fluid-tight material and an inner layer of flexible material having minute interconnected cells suitable for the storage of air. Upon submersion in water, a selectively positioned air bubble is created from the air stored in the inner layer during non-submergence.

United States Patent [191 Hirsch AMPHIBIOUS GARMENT [76] Inventor: Jeffrey G. Hirsch, 20 Scott Dr., New City, NY. 10956 22 Filed: Mar. 19, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 342,542

Related US. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 38,858, May 19,

1970, abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 9/340 [51] Int. Cl. B63c 9/08 [58] Field of Search 9/334, 336, 342, 329, 311

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,432,643 10/1922 Toborek et a]. 9/334 [111 3,805,308 Apr. 23, 1974 2,722,020 11/1955 Gazelle 9/336 X 2,905,954 9/1959 Lanciano, Jr. 9/337 X 3,204,264 9/1965 Tamura et al. 9/334 Primary Examiner-George E. A. Halvosa Assistant Examiner-Paul E. Sauberer Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Eisenman, Allsopp and Strack 57 ABSTRACT A garment constructed with an outer shell of substantially fluid-tight material and an inner layer of flexible material having minute interconnected cells suitable for the storage of air. Upon submersion in water, a selectively positioned air bubble is created from the air stored in the inner layer during non-submergence.

17 Claims, 14 Drawing Figures ATEN'Q'EBAPRQ 1914 SHEET 1 [IF 3 FIGZ FIG!

FIG-4 INVENTOR. JEFFREY G. HIRSCH mm and FIG. 3

ATTORNEYS CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a continuation-in-part of copending application Ser. No. 38,858, filed May 19, 1970 now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to garments; more particularly, it relates to garments adapted for amphibious use.

There are several areas of use which make an amphibious garment important and desirable. Such garments may be used for the training of divers and swimmers. They may also be provided as life jackets for enhanced buoyancy during immersion in water. In more general applications, these garments may be worn in any marine environment for weather protection on the surface and enhanced buoyancy in the event of either intentional or accidental submergence in the water. The need and value of such garments extend from recreational pursuits to military operations.

When a garment is used in conjunction with diving practice and training, it functions to protect the diver from adverse effects of improper water entry. Thus, it should cushion the blow of water and assist in the subsequent flotation of the wearer. Such a garment must not affect the wearer's balance within or outside of the water and it must not encumber the diver either during the dive or as a subsequent swimmer.

With respect to general marine utilization of a garment of the nature comtemplated, the abovementioned features are again pertinent. In addition, it is preferable that the garment provide some degree of insulation, both within and outside of the water and the flotation characteristics may be modified to provide accelerated surfacing and greaterbuoyancy. A still further factor, where the garment is employed on vessels and over extended periods of time, is reliability. It should not be necessary to perform periodic inspections in order to be sure that the buoyancy and operating characteristics of the jacket are intact. Preferably, such garments should not rely upon elements which are subject to aging or require the retention of fluids under pressure.

2. Description of the Prior Art The existing equipment used for the purposes described above, ranges from the simple sweat shirt worn during diving instruction to complicated inflatable jackets and buoyant overcoats worn during sailing. Intermediate to these garments one finds more conventional life preservers and life belts of the type commonly found in the vicinity of any water area. Although capable of providing some of the features metioned above and explained in more detail hereinafter, the existing equipment fails to provide the versatility and/or effectiveness made available for the first time with this invention.

Amphibious jackets proposed to date have, in some instances, utilized liner materials containing entrapped air, nitrogen, or the like, to provide buoyancy. These liners are by nature cumbersome and fail to afford the cushioning effects made possible with the present invention. In other instances, cork or similar rigid materials have been proposed; here too, a cumbersome and awkward garment results. More conventional appearing, better balanced garments, have been shown wherein pressurized gas is released for flotation purposes. These are objectionable for cost, maintenance, reliability, and suitability reasons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides garments designed to absorb the shocks encountered when the wearer falls into the water either inadvertently or during diving. These garments contain a layer of material which acts as an air storage medium and automatically ejects this air into specifically designed portions of the garment upon immersion in water; such that the wearer is provided with enhanced buoyancy and is returned to the surface within the shortest period of time and with suitable orientation. The garment of the invention is of light weight design and can be provided in conventionally tailored forms to yield both comfort and weather protection during surface wear. As a result of the unique design of this garment, no special air or gas supplies are required and the garment automatically recovers its buoyancy characteristics shortly after the wearer emerges from water. Accordingly, it may be employed advantageously for such activities as swim ming and diving wherein a wearer repeatedly enters and exits from the water.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved garment suitable for both surface and water wear.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved garment for use during diving and swimming.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved protective garment for use aboard ship.

Another object of the invention is to provide a shockabsorbing garment adapted to protect the wearer against the impact of water, or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide an im proved garment having a finite quantity of air entrapped therein such that a wearer will experience enhanced buoyancy upon entry into the water.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved garment of the nature described which will provide said enhanced buoyancy for a predetermined time following entry into the water.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved garment of the type which is operative to support the wearer in a vertical position immediately upon entry into the water and for a predetermined time thereafter.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved garment of the nature described which automatically enhances buoyancy upon entry into the water and after a predetermined time yields a lesser degree of enhanced buoyancy.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved garment of the nature described which exhibits decreased buoyancy during submergence and is operative to automatically recover its buoyancy shortly after removal from the water.

In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention, there is provided a garment adapted for submergence in water comprising an outer open shell of substantially airtight material and an inner layer of flexible porous cellular material having interconnected cells through which fluid may pass via at least the surface confronting said outer shell, said inner layer being exposed to entry of water, the upper portion of said garment including a pocket formed by said outer shell and accessible to air emitted from said inner layer when it is displaced upon entry of water.

As a result of the construction and design features of garments embodying the invention, a bubble of air is formed when a wearer enters the water. This bubble of air is confined to strategic areas and effects a rapid resurfacing and orientation of the wearer. The rate of resurfacing, the orientation of the wearer, and the period during which the wearers orientation is affected by the air bubble, are controllable.

The above described objects and features of the invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from the following detailed description of a particular embodiment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an illustration of the front of a jacket embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of the back of a jacket embodying the invention;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of the inside of a jacket embodying the invention;

FIG. 4 is a cut-away view of a portion ofajacket embodying the invention and showing a typical seam;

FIGS. 5A through 5C are sketches of a person wearing a garment embodying the features of the invention, in various degrees of submersion;

FIGS. 6A through 6D are cross-sectional views through various portions of a garment embodying the features of the invention, as the garment is subject to impact with, and subsequent submersion in, water;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective illustration of several layers of material which may be used to create the interconnected cell structure used in particular embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a front view of a plurality of layers of material, arranged to create one interconnected cell structure which may be used in embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 9 is a front view of a plurality of layers of material, arranged to create another interconnected cell structure which may be used in embodiments of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a jacket or garment embodying the invention may be tailored to look substantially like any garment for daily surface wear. The specific use to which the jacket will be put, bears some consideration in the tailoring; however, in general, if the jacket is to be worn for both surface and water use, fashion may dictate the appearance. Where the garment is employed exclusively for diving and swimming, it is presumed that tailoring embellishments will be minimized and several specific modifications will be introduced for purposes of greater protection and swimming ease.

The jacket 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3, has a zipper closure 11 in the front. The zipper portion and accompanying overlapping flap 28 are preferably arranged such that the inner lining materials extend to a substantially butting relationship. Thus, the inner'lining materials come up to a position 27 as illustrated in FIG. 3. This arrangement is preferable for diving use in order to achieve the maximum cushioning effect across the chest. Where sleeves 12 are included in the jacket, they may be provided with tightening straps 13 or elastic means, in order to prevent the sleeves from slipping up. Although this tendency is present, it is not detrimental to the functioning of the jacket and the inclusion of sleeve retention means is believed preferable only for the sake of appearance and maximum body protection. A collar 15 is shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. This collar performs a minimal protective function and is primarily decorative. However, the general design of the jacket around the shoulders is such that one has complete freedom of movement for the head and neck both within and without the water. Where the jacket is specifically designed for diving, this is an extremely important feature.

With reference to FIG. 2, attention is directed to the manner in which the back of the outer shell 20 is designed. As explained more fully hereinafter, when this jacket is submerged in the water, an air bubble is immediately formed in order to assist in the surfacing of the wearer. In order to channel and position this air bubble, the upper back portion 25 of the outer shell of the jacket 10, is designed to create a suitable air pocket. The surface area of the outer shell is larger than the surface area of the other body girdling portions of the garment. As illustrated in FIG. 2, for example, there is an excess of material in portion 25 and when the jacket is in an inflated condition, this excess portion of the shell material provides an effective air pocket.

The cut-out portion appearing in the bottom center of the jacket in FIG. 3 illustrates a number of possible layers which may be employed in a garment embodying the invention. The principal layers include an outer shell 20 and an air storage liner material 22. The outer shell 20 may be composed of a tight-knit material that is substantially fluid-impervious such as nylon. The air storage liner 22 may be formed of polyurethane, or other synthetic materials, which comprise large numbers of minute interconnected pores. This liner material is inherently buoyant and it is also liquidpermeable. When submerged in water, the water enters the interconnected pores, forcing the air out, and replacing it. On the other hand, when returned to normal atmospheric conditions, the water vacates the pores and is again replaced by air.

The air storage liner 22 may be sandwiched between liners 21 and 23, which serve the dual purpose of retaining air storage liner 22 and controlling the rate at which air and/or water are transferred into and out of liner 22. These inner liners 21 and 23 may be of cotton knit material, or they may be of other materials depending upon the characteristics desired. Finally, an inner liner of material 24 is provided, which may be similar to the outer shell 20, or may be of a more waterpermeable material. The functioning of this garment renders it essential that the water can pass through at least inner linings 23 and 24 during submersion of the jacket.

A-further feature of the illustrated jacket, apparent in FIG. 3, is the absence of vertical seams sealing off vertical panels of the garment from one another. Preferably air should be permitted to follow a path girdling the body and between any of the liners.

FIG. 4 shows a typical seam at which the various layers are joined. The shell and inner linings are combined at the seam to effect a substantially fluid-tight joint. A seam of this nature is present around the armholes 26 5. of the garment. In order to function properly, it is not necessary that this garment have sleeves; but even if sleevesare employed, it is preferable that they be sealingly seamed in the manner illustrated. This assures integrity of the air pocket formed in the upper portion of the garment.

In order to appreciate the functioning of this garment when one subjects it to submersion, attention is first directed to FIGS. A through 5C.

FIG. 5A depicts a person wearing the jacket on dry land. The jacket resides in a quiescent state. In this state, the minute interconnected pores of inner liner 22 are filled with air. FIG. 5B depicts a person submerged beneath the water line 40 after having just jumped in. As soon as any portion of jacket 10 enters the water, an air bubble begins to form and this bubble 30 rises due to the design of the jacket to the upper shoulder portion of the jacket.

FIG.-5C depicts a person in the water after being brought back to the surface by air bubble 30. The air in the jacket appears both at the upper back shoulder portion 30 and in the front shoulder portion 31 if desired. The head is supported well out of the water and the body is maintained in a substantially vertical position.

The action by which the air bubble is formed and trapped may now be considered in conjunction with FIGS. 6A through 6D.

FIG. 6A illustrates the quiescent condition of the material and provides an enlarged view of each of the five lining materials of the jacket. As the description of the functioning of the invention proceeds, it should be noted that a practical embodiment of the invention requires only the inclusion of inner liner 22 and outer shell 20.

Upon entry into the water, the shock of entry causes a compression of the jacket at the point of impact 50, as illustrated in the partial view of FIG. 6B. The impact of the shock is absorbed immediately due to the resilient nature ofliner material 22 in combination with the dampening effect caused by the need to evacuate the air in the interconnected. pores of liner material 22. Still further, the body of the wearer is protected from the slapof the water by the. mere interposition of the material of the jacket itself. Thus, a wearer is cushioned from the effects of the impact and, as explained herein after, in combination with this cushioning, enhanced buoyancy is automatically provided.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the pores of the liner material 22 are compressed by the water and air is immediately forced out. The exiting of the air, as illustrated by the hollow arrows, takes place through the space between liner 23 and material 22 and also between liner 24 and liner 23. There is also an air channel through the uncompressed portions of the spacing between the material 22, liner 21, and outer shell 20. Particular attention is directed to the fact that the outer shell portion and the inner shell portion are not fastened to material 22 in a body-encircling fashion and thus the air that is driven from material 22 has direct access to the shoulder portion of the garment.

As illustrated in FIG. 6C, after the initial impact, material 22, due to its restitution characteristics, again .resumes its normal condition and it is now filled (as illustrated by the darkened pores) with water. This water has primarily entered duringthe impact and replaces the air originally in the pores. Substantially all of the air IQ jacket is to be used for diving training. If the jacket is to be used for longer durations in the water, e.g., as a life preserver, the air retention characteristics of the outer lining will be greatly increased.

When the jacket is initially submerged, the air bubble is immediately and automatically formed. The speed with which the bubble is formed may be controlled by controlling the permeability of liners 21 and 23. In effect, liners may serve as gates to prevent too quick a formation of the air bubble. The speed of bubble formation may also be controlled by selection of the material 22. The size of the pores; their interconnection; their density; and the material thickness, are all pertinent characteristics. The positioning of the air bubble is of course determined by the tailoring of the jacket itself, and it is intended to provide proper design to effect a general vertical positioning of the wearer in the water during bubble presence.

The inner liner 22 may be fabricated in a number of ways. The shock absorbing and transient air storage characteristics are each determined in greater or lesser degree by the cell structure of this liner. One may sim ply select a porous material of suitable density and resilience; if this is not desired, a method of fabrication is to select a closed cell material and mechanically rupture the cells under pressure. Another effective method is illustrated in FIGS. 7-9,

FIG. 7 is an exploded view showing segments of three separate layers 50, 51, 52 of material, each containing apertures 53 to form a lattice. Although enlarged for purposes of illustration, these layers may actually be thinly milled sheets of polyurethane foam or the like. The sheets are bonded in face-to-face relationship to form a single integral unit containing interconnected cells each bounded by the walls of the various apertures. The volume of each cell and the degree of interconnection therebetween, are determined by the size and shape of the apertures 53, the thickness of each layer, and the lateral position of the layers relative to one another. Of course, although the FIGURES show uniform apertures of square shape, this is not meant to be restrictive. In fact, actual manufacture of thin sheets may include processes whichdevelop very irregular apertures.

FIG. 8 illustrates the assembly of a plurality of identical sheets 50, 51, 52 wherein alternate sheets are laterally shifted along one side axis so that the walls 54 of the alternate sheets fall approximately in the center of the aperture of the sandwiching sheets. FIG. 9 illustrates the assembly of identical sheets 50, 51, 52 wherein alternate sheets are laterally shifted along two axes so that the walls 54, 55 of the alternate sheets each fall approximately in the center of the aperture of the sandwiching sheets. An endless variety of relative positions can be prepared, in order to effect the degree of cell interconnection.

There is no limit upon the number of sheets used to fabricate the inner liner. One may desire a total thickness of 3/8 of an inch and achieve this with either twelve sheets of 1/32 of an inch material or three sheets of l/8 of an inch material. The specific construction depends upon the size of cell and the degree of interconnection to yield the desired combination of shock absorbtion, air storage, and rate of air evacuation characteristics. In practice, one prefers different characteristics at different locations on the garment.

It is another important feature of the invention that the air bubble degenerates with time so that the wearer is unencumbered during swimming. The material of the jacket, notably that ofliner 22, is inherently buoyant so that it does not drag upon the wearer once the air bubble has escaped. When the jacket is removed from the water, the weight of the water immediately causes evacuation from the interconnected pores of the liner material and replacement with air under atmospheric pressure. Thus, it will be seen that garments constructed as described have an air storage element comprising liner 22. This is an automatically recharged air storage element and operates on the inherent principles and characteristics of the material used, with no reliance upon external mechanical means and in a fashion which does not deteriorate with age. The materials of the jacket may be selected in accordance with the particular uses to which it is to be put; but in any event it will be obvious that the jacket exhibits insulation properties both within and without the water. Lining material 22 alone is an insulator; and this insulation characteristic may be enhanced by proper selection of the additional inner liners 21, 23, and 24.

A particular embodiment of within invention withn a jacket has been shown and described. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the temporarily enhanced buoyancy made available as the result of this invention, may be employed in connection with other garments. It will also be apparent to those skilled in this field that certain of the liners may be modified and/or eliminated. It is intended to cover all modifications which come within the spirit and teachings of the present invention, as defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A garment adapted for submergence in water comprising an outer open shell of substantially air-tight material and an inner layer of flexible porous cellular material having interconnected cells through which fluid may pass via at least the surface confronting said outer shell, said inner layer being exposed to entry of water, the upper portion of said garment including a pocket formed by said outer shell and accessible to air emitted from said inner layer when it is displaced upon entry of water.

2. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein said outer shell is fluid-pervious in accordance with a predetermined rate.

3. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein the material of said inner layer is resilient.

4. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein the material of said inner layer is inherently buoyant.

5. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein said pocket is primarily located above th4e chest of a wearer when in a vertical position.

6. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein fluid may pass unrestricted between said inner layer and said outer shell in substantially all directions.

7. A garment as defined in claim 1, including a second shell of sheet material whereby said inner layer is sandwiched between said second shell and said outer shell.

8. A garment as defined in claim 7, wherein said second shell cooperates with said outer shell in the formation of said pocket.

9. A garment as defined in claim 8, wherein fastening means are provided interconnecting said layer of material and said shells to facilitate the passage of fluid from said inner layer to said pocket.

10. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein said outer shell has a larger surface area than said inner layer and is fastened thereto to confine the excess surface area primarily in the region behind a wearers shoulders.

11. A garment as defined in claim 10, wherein aid outer shell is fastened to said inner layer to confine a portion of said excess surface area in other locations about the torso of a wearer.

12. A garment as defined in claim 7, including a second inner layer of material positioned between said first mentioned inner layer and said outer shell, said second inner layer comprising material having a predetermined fluid permeability.

13. A garment as defined in claim 12, wherein at least said second shell and said outer shell are connected in a substantially fluid-tight seam at the upper portion thereof.

14. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner layer comprises a plurality of thin sheets of material having apertures therethrough, said sheets being bonded in face-to-face relationship with alternate layers being laterally offset.

15. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner layer comprises a plurality of sheets of porous material.

16. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner layer is comprised of a plurality of sheets of polyurethane foam, each of said sheets having multiple apertures therein and being bonded in face-to-face relationship with the adjacent sheet.

17. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner layer comprises a plurality of sheets of polyurethane, each having apertures therethrough and being bonded in face-to-face relationship with the adjacent sheet, the number of sheets being varied in predetermined locations of the garment.

(SEAL) V 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent 3,8053% Dated April 23, 19w

lm rentofls Jeffrey rsch It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent andithatsaid Letters'rPatent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 7, 1ine 32 Change "within" to --the- Column 7, line 32 Change "withn" to --within---- Column 8, line A Change "th re" to --the t Signed and sealed this 1st day of October 1974,

McCOY'M. GIBSONyJR. c. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents uscoMM-Dc 60376-P69 ".5. GOVIRNIIENT PRIPQTIIG OFFICE I... 0!"51,

FORM PC4050 (10-69) 

1. A garment adapted for submergence in water comprising an outer open shell of substantially air-tight material and an inner layer of flexible porous cellular material having interconnected cells through which fluid may pass via at least the surface confronting said outer shell, said inner layer being exposed to entry of water, the upper portion of said garment including a pocket formed by said outer shell and accessible to air emitted from said inner layer when it is displaced upon entry of water.
 2. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein said outer shell is fluid-pervious in accordance with a predetermined rate.
 3. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein the material of said inner layer is resilient.
 4. A gaRment as defined in claim 1, wherein the material of said inner layer is inherently buoyant.
 5. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein said pocket is primarily located above th4e chest of a wearer when in a vertical position.
 6. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein fluid may pass unrestricted between said inner layer and said outer shell in substantially all directions.
 7. A garment as defined in claim 1, including a second shell of sheet material whereby said inner layer is sandwiched between said second shell and said outer shell.
 8. A garment as defined in claim 7, wherein said second shell cooperates with said outer shell in the formation of said pocket.
 9. A garment as defined in claim 8, wherein fastening means are provided interconnecting said layer of material and said shells to facilitate the passage of fluid from said inner layer to said pocket.
 10. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein said outer shell has a larger surface area than said inner layer and is fastened thereto to confine the excess surface area primarily in the region behind a wearer''s shoulders.
 11. A garment as defined in claim 10, wherein aid outer shell is fastened to said inner layer to confine a portion of said excess surface area in other locations about the torso of a wearer.
 12. A garment as defined in claim 7, including a second inner layer of material positioned between said first mentioned inner layer and said outer shell, said second inner layer comprising material having a predetermined fluid permeability.
 13. A garment as defined in claim 12, wherein at least said second shell and said outer shell are connected in a substantially fluid-tight seam at the upper portion thereof.
 14. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner layer comprises a plurality of thin sheets of material having apertures therethrough, said sheets being bonded in face-to-face relationship with alternate layers being laterally offset.
 15. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner layer comprises a plurality of sheets of porous material.
 16. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner layer is comprised of a plurality of sheets of polyurethane foam, each of said sheets having multiple apertures therein and being bonded in face-to-face relationship with the adjacent sheet.
 17. A garment as defined in claim 1, wherein said inner layer comprises a plurality of sheets of polyurethane, each having apertures therethrough and being bonded in face-to-face relationship with the adjacent sheet, the number of sheets being varied in predetermined locations of the garment. 